The Best Part-Time Jobs To Make Money Fast in 2019 (Online/Offline)

The number of voluntary part-time workers — people who choose to work part-time because of their schedule, interests, or other obligations — has been steadily increasing in the U.S. since the Great Recession, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In 2019, there are more part-time job opportunities than at any time in history. Those jobs are being filled by people with educational backgrounds ranging from high school diplomas to master’s degrees.

Online Part-Time Jobs

If you want to make money from home, you have lots of possibilities. Now more than ever before, you can create the future you want. It just takes a little creativity and outside-the-box thinking to find an online part-time job that works for you.

#1 – Proofreading

With so much online content being added to the web every day, it’s never been easier for a talented proofreader to find work. Getting your first client is simple — you can join a freelance job site like Fiverr or Upwork, or send a proposal to a website that you think would benefit from your expertise.

You don’t even need a degree to get started. You just have to have an eye for the small details that some people overlook.

#2 – Bookkeeping

You don’t have to be a CPA to do bookkeeping work. And while there are a number of online courses that make it easy for you to become a certified bookkeeper, you don’t need a certification to find and obtain clients.

The earning potential is high with this part-time job; you can make more than $60 per hour.

#3 – Online Tutoring

If you’re looking for work that’s both personally and professionally fulfilling, online tutoring might be one of the best part-time jobs for you. You could help bring the gift of a second language or new math skills to children and adults all over the world.

This is a high-demand field from other countries. It might require some late-night work on your part, but you can work flexible hours that will fit into your schedule. The pay can reach up to $20 per hour.

If you’re wondering which company to check out, VIP Kid is one of the more established ones.

#4 – Freelance Writer

If you’ve always dreamed of being a writer, that dream is within your grasp. Websites need a steady flow of content to stay relevant and popular. You can supply fresh content while earning a decent paycheck.

There’s no shortage of topics to write about. But if you’re trying to carve out a unique space for yourself, start with Gina Horkey’s list of more than 200 niches.

#5 – Virtual Assistant (VA)

If you’re a confident multitasker, the best part-time job for you might be working as a virtual assistant. You can often fill these positions remotely, or work off-site for a local business, entrepreneur or professional.

With flexible hours and great growth potential, you can add multiple clients to maximize your earnings. As you become more familiar with your tasks, you’ll find that you become much faster at completing them.

#6 – Transcription

Transcription is when you type someone’s audio recordings (or the audio track from a video) into written words. Keep in mind that if someone asks you to transcribe one hour of audio, it could take two or three hours to complete.

Finding the right field will help you earn more. For example, medical transcription pays better than many other niches. Still, you’ll likely cap out at around $25 per hour.

#7 – Social Media Manager

Social media managers can quickly transform a business from good to great, and they’re paid well for their efforts. In fact, they often earn a few thousand dollars per client. And by managing ads for clients, they can make even more.

Learning about a client’s brand and message can be time consuming at first. But as you establish an ongoing working relationship, managing that client will become much easier.

And you can work your way up with a client by proving your worth. You might start by just posting to the client’s social media accounts, but if you do well, you can learn the ropes of advertising.

#8 – Graphic Designer

Graphic design is another great side job right now because of growing demand.

Websites are no longer just a bunch of text – they now rely heavily on visuals, and some sites (like Pinterest) are primarily image-based. Graphic designers are key players in all aspects of website development, from the design of buttons, icons and logos to a business’ overall branding and online presentation. They also play a crucial role when it comes to social media, advertising, and a host of other critical business functions.

Graphic design gives you a chance to exercise your creative side while earning big money; designers are some of the best-paid people in tech. In fact, you can really rake in the dough by combining your graphic design skills with the social media management role mentioned above – your clients will be thrilled to have someone who can maintain consistent visual branding across all their communication channels.

#10 – Customer Service Representative

Do you have a gift for connecting with people over the phone? Are you a naturally helpful person? Then you might make a great customer service representative.

CSRs are always in demand. It’s not the highest paid work you’ll find online, and you won’t be able to set your own hours (like you can with proofreading or some of the other jobs on this list), but an experienced CSR will always find work if they want it.

#11 – Scopist

Court reporters take notes in the courtroom during hearings. Those notes are later sent to a scopist, who edits them. This does require some training, but it pays better than many other part-time jobs, such as data entry.

Because of the specialized nature of this work, it’s harder to outsource. To learn more about scoping and finding clients, take this free Intro to Scoping Mini-Course.

Offline Part-Time Jobs

Maybe you don’t have a great internet connection at all times. Or maybe you want to get out into the world more and stop staring at your keyboard and screen all day. If either of these circumstances sounds like you, consider an offline part-time job.

#1 – Photographer

A good photographer can always find a way to make a living. You can sell stock photos online or in local shops. The great thing about stock photos is that you post them once and then passive income from them for years.

You can also offer your services locally by taking family portraits, working as a photojournalist for a newspaper, or taking pictures as a wedding photographer.

If you live in a bigger city, driving for Uber or Lyft can be one of the best part-time jobs you’ve ever had. The earnings can be high — especially if you drive during peak hours, when people tend to need more rides. If you’re looking for a high-paying weekend job, this could be it.

#4 – Create an Etsy Store

Part of your job will entail computer time, but the bulk of your time will be spent offline creating your masterpieces. This is a great opportunity for people who love DIY crafts or creating unique, homemade items.

Familiarize yourself with which items sell well on Etsy, such as jewelry. And if you find one of your items is selling particularly well, capitalize on that success by creating similar items your customers might be interested in.

#5 – Instacart

Instacart pays you to shop for other people’s groceries. You can be an in-store shopper or a delivery person. Even though it’s a part-time job with extremely flexible hours, you can still qualify for benefits and retirement, which is a nice perk.

#6 – TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit offers a variety of jobs for self-starters. You might hook up a new television or other electronics, do deliveries, or even wait in line. The best-paying tasks are for those who are handy around the house.

The key to getting work on TaskRabbit is to set up a good profile. Put down every skill you have — no matter how big or small. You never know what people will pay you to do.

#7 – Postmates

Postmates is a delivery service that is found in bigger cities. You might deliver groceries, dinner, or even alcohol to your clients.

This is something you can plan around your schedule and your daily route. If you know you’re heading in a certain direction, you can make a stop on your way there. Or you can stack several deliveries in one carload if the scheduling works out.

#8 – Massage Therapist

If you love the idea of providing relief and comfort to people while earning a decent paycheck, you may want to become a massage therapist. However, you will need to get your certification first, and you should only invest the time and money to do that if you’re looking for a long-term second career.

#9 – Dog Walker

For animal lovers, there are multiple freelance jobs you can do on the side. For starters, there is dog walking. Sites like Rover make it easy to find clients. You’ll have to go through a background check, but that will give your customers more peace of mind. Walkers earn the highest rates in the biggest cities, like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

To set yourself apart from the competition, send an actual resume and cover letter to your potential clients. Little details like these might seem insignificant for a part-time job walking dogs, but paying attention to them will make you look more professional and encourage people to entrust you with the care of their four-legged friends.

If you’re just looking to earn some extra cash, you can also try pet sitting.

#10 – Delivery Driver

If you’re going to be a delivery person, you might as well get paid as much as possible. If you’re exploring this option, search Yelp for high-rated and high-priced restaurants that offer delivery. Higher prices can mean bigger tips.

#11 – Barista

If you like customer service, love the smell of fresh coffee, and know the difference between a double mocha latte and flat white, then you can work as a barista in coffee shop. Some cafes, like Starbucks, also offer health insurance or promise to pay for your college tuition. Even if you’re not in it for the benefits, the tips can be good.

Best Part-Time Job Search Sites

Need a place to find some of these amazing opportunities we discussed? Here are some popular places to start your search.

FlexJobs carefully vets the jobs they offer on their website. They do their homework finding only legit online jobs, so you don’t have to. You can begin your search without paying a subscription fee, too.

To narrow your search, use the words “part-time.” You should always start by searching for jobs in nearby towns and cities, because some companies prefer to hire locally when possible.

Upwork lists many of the best online jobs every day. To get your foot in the door, you might have to take a couple of projects below your typical pay rate. That’s what I did. But I earned great reviews from my clients, which in turn led to higher-paying work.

Upwork offers a lot of freelance writing jobs for beginners. But there’s a lot of competition for jobs on the site, which hosts a large number of freelancers from developing nations (who are often willing to work for relatively low wages). Because of that, you need to make yourself stand out.

When applying for a job on Upwork, send a customized proposal. Try to do a bit of research on the company, and make sure to let them know you did so in the first couple of paragraphs. Keep your proposals short and to the point.

To set yourself apart, you can also make a customized video for the bigger jobs you hope to nab. In your proposal, link to the video. This is another strategy I used to gain clients fast.

Craigslist can be a great resource or a big nightmare, so you have to be careful. Look for local day-labor and short-term gigs — there are usually a lot of those on this site.

Jobs like that are a great opportunity for making extra money when you have a day to spare. But you need to be on the lookout for scams when browsing Craigslist; be leery of anything with lots of promises. And if you’re meeting someone for a job interview, try to meet in a public place.

Finding Part-Time Jobs that Pay-Well

There is no shortage of work — both offline and online — that pays well above minimum wage.

The wisest thing to do is to just get started. There are opportunities for part-time workers in data entry, delivery, and ridesharing to start earning money fast.

And it’s OK if these careers are not your long-term plan or life goal; when you’re not working, make sure to build up your job skills so you can take a higher paying jobs like freelance writing or bookkeeping.

About The Author

R.J. Weiss is the founder and editor of The Ways To Wealth, a Certified Financial Planner™, husband and father of three. He's spent the last 10+ years writing about personal finance and has been featured in Forbes, Bloomberg, MSN Money, and other publications.

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